Ouse News

Audience

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On 21 February, with an excellent Chair, Dr Humphrey Crick, Chair of Cambridge Conservation Forum, and very knowledgeable panel members:

David Thomas, Chief Executive at Middle Level Commissioners;

Ken Goodger, Director of Norfolk Essential Oils;

John Torlesse, Manager at Natural England; and

Emma Thornton, Chief Executive, Visit Cambridge & Beyond DMO

we had a fascinating evening as a wide range of exciting questions were discussed, all on the subject of ‘Developing a Resilient Future for the Ouse Washes Landscape’.

We’re proud to now show you a highlights and expertly edited full film (by Adam Finch Films) of the panel discussion which have just been added to the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership’s YouTube channel:

Attended by just over 100 people, with live voting and and great questions coming from attendees, the panel discussed the complex issues that affect the current and future land use interests, across farming, conservation, business, leisure and community interests, and flood and water management. Read More »

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Poets and writers from across three countries came together on Friday 31st March to take part in the sixth annual Fenland Poet Laureate Awards!

This local initiative gives writers the chance to compose poems on the theme of ‘The Fens’ and compete for the title of Fenland Poet Laureate, while younger poets (aged between 10 and 17) can also enter to compete for the Young Fenland Poet Laureate prize.

The competition received over 110 entries this year, and the judges were overwhelmed by the incredibly high quality of all the poems that were submitted. All entries were judged anonymously and the top eight finalists in each category were invited to read their poetry at the awards ceremony, which took place at March Town Hall.

This year, the Young Fenland Poet Laureate prize was awarded to Sophie Lutkin for her poem ‘In Situ’. The judges admired the way Sophie’s poem, which was about the archaeological finds at Much Farm in Whittlesey, “showed the history of the fens in [its] soil”. Read More »

16January 2017

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Following on from the enormous interest generated by The Field Theatre Group’s projects last year to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Littleport and Ely Riots, the Field’s exhibition and documentary film are being hosted by Ely Museum throughout January and February. This is another chance to find out more about the tumultuous events that tore a town apart. You can also view the condemned cells at Ely museum (formerly the Bishop’s Gaol) where the ill-fated rioters awaited execution.

The Littleport Riot was a classic example of the ‘Bread Riots’ which swept the country in the aftermath of the Napoleonic War. Unemployment was high, wages were low, and the newly adopted Corn Laws sent the price of grain soaring. Many families were unable to afford even that most basic of foodstuffs …. bread. Civil unrest was rife and mob violence erupted in small community of Littleport in an orgy of looting and vandalism. Read More »

First of all, Mark, Jono, Diane and I wish you all a very merry festive period and best wishes for 2017!

What better opportunity to take a look back over the previous year at all the amazing work done by the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership and say a big thank you to all of our partners, supporters and the Heritage Lottery Fund for a fantastic year. Here are some highlights of the past twelve months:

This photograph was taken on 17 January 2013, on the morning of a strong hoare frost, on the River Great Ouse near Needingworth, Cambs.

January 2016:

We were very pleased to announce the issue of the wonderful Chasing Ice film, which tells the fascinating story of Fen Skating, in full on our YouTube channel. The film was made as part of our Skating around the Fens project managed by the Fen Skating Association. It tells the story of Fen Skating and the wonderful history and folklore that surrounds this exciting sport and was expertly made by fen skater, Adam Giles, and his team at Cambridge FilmWorks. Read More »

7December 2016

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This is our penultimate OWLP key event (we’re planning a celebration of all the work done in Spring 2017). We’ll be showcasing what has happened as part of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership over the past three years, reviewing how well we achieved the vision, aims and objectives of the scheme.

Most important though, we want to highlight what the partnership plans to do next, focussing on the legacy of the partnership and, more particularly, raising awareness of the challenges facing Ouse Washes as a result of climate change, and developing a balanced understanding of how the many (and sometimes competing) land use interests can work together to secure a resilient future through effective management of the Ouse Washes Landscape.

About the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership

The Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership (OWLP) scheme is a Heritage Lottery Fund grant-aided scheme in the heart of the Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Fens focusing on the distinctively rural, open and tranquil landscape surrounding the Ouse Washes and its unique heritage. Find out more >>